BERLIN, Germany
Germany would not stand in the way if Poland sent its German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Sunday in an interview with French television LCI.
If Poland were to
go ahead and sent its Leopard 2 tanks without German approval,
Baerbock said, "If we were asked, we would not stand in the
way."
"We know how important
these tanks are and this is why we are discussing this now with our
partners," the German foreign minister added. "We need to make sure
people's lives are saved and Ukraine's territory liberated."
Earlier Sunday, German Chancellor Olaf
Scholz reaffirmed that Berlin and Paris would support
Ukraine in its fight against Russian occupation, and would not allow
Europe to revert back to "hatred and national rivalries."
"We will continue to
provide Ukraine with all the support its needs for as long as necessary.
Together, as Europeans, to defend our European peace project," he said
while on
a visit to Paris to celebrate 60 years of the landmark Franco-German Elysee
Treaty.
German Defense Minister Boris
Pistorius said on Sunday that he expected a decision soon on the delivery of
the tanks to Ukraine.
Pistorius told Germany's ARD
public television that Berlin would not make a hasty decision because
there were many factors to consider, including consequences at home for the
security of the German population.
Germany has been under
considerable pressure both to deliver Leopard 2 battle tanks to
Ukraine and to allow other countries to send their German-made tanks to
Ukrainian forces. But Berlin has been hesitant to send the highly
advanced, Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine out of concern it could lead to a widening
of the Russian war in Ukraine.
Poland has repeatedly slammed
Berlin over its hesitant stance.
Polish Prime
Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told the national Polish PAP news agency,
"Germany's attitude is unacceptable. It has been almost a year since the
war began. Innocent people are dying every day."
"Russian bombs are
wreaking havoc in Ukrainian cities. Civilian targets are being attacked, women
and children are being murdered," he added.
French President Emmanuel
Macron said that his country was still studying the decision to deliver
French-mad Leclerc heavy tanks to Ukraine.
Speaking at a joint press
conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday, Macron said he had
asked the Defense Ministry to work on it, stressing that "nothing is
excluded."
However, the French president
stressed that dispatching any hardware to Ukraine to push Russian forces away
should be "collectively" decided and coordinated with allies, Germany
included.
Macron also said that
deploying the heavy tanks to Ukraine must not weaken France's own defense
capabilities or escalate the conflict.
Germany has been under immense
pressure lately to deliver battle tanks to Ukraine. Berlin has been hesitant to
send the highly advanced, German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine or allow other
nations to transfer them.
On Sunday, Scholz reiterated
Berlin's stance on the matter, stressing that his country had always acted in
close coordination with its allies.
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